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Students at the Humanities Amphitheatre relax on a blanket in the sunshine while studying.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will welcome 95 students from across the state this fall as its newest class of Distinguished Tennessean Scholars, honoring its continued commitment to providing Tennessee students with access to scholarships and college degrees.

“The Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship is a reflection of how future Volunteers are lighting the way for others before their time on Rocky Top even begins,” said Vice Provost for Enrollment Management Kari Alldredge. “This year, it’s a privilege to recognize a Distinguished Tennessean from each of our 95 counties. We are excited to celebrate these scholars for the ways they have made a positive impact in their communities and for what they will accomplish in the years ahead.”

The university launched the Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship in fall 2022 with the goal of recognizing one student from each county across the state for exceptional academic performance, demonstrated community involvement and a passion for the Volunteer spirit. Since then, the university has awarded upwards of $7 million to 278 Distinguished Tennessean Scholars. The scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fees and is renewable for four years.

Meet this year’s Distinguished Tennessean Scholars

  • Anderson County: Emily Martin, Anderson County High School
  • Bedford County: Laura Dowell, Webb School
  • Benton County: Brooklyn Needham, Camden Central High School
  • Bledsoe County: Rhylea Davis, Bledsoe County High School
  • Blount County: Tyler Gilliland, Samuel Everett School of Innovation
  • Bradley County: Natalie Olmstead, Walker Valley High School
  • Campbell County: Reagan Stanfill, Campbell County High School
  • Cannon County: Ellie Anderson, Cannon County High School
  • Carroll County: Chase Mayfield, Huntingdon High School
  • Carter County: Elijah Chinault, Elizabethton High School
  • Cheatham County: Camdyn Hamlin, Pleasant View Christian School
  • Chester County: Ana Summars, Chester County High School
  • Claiborne County: Hudson Harris, Cumberland Gap High School
  • Clay County: Erin Meadows, Clay County High School
  • Cocke County: Elizabeth Holt, Cosby High School
  • Coffee County: Audrey Sohrabi, Tullahoma High School
  • Crockett County: Eleanor Haynes, Crockett County High School
  • Cumberland County: Hayden Houston, Stone Memorial High School
  • Davidson County: Emma Sanders, Donelson Christian Academy
  • Decatur County: Emmerey Mathis, Riverside High School
  • DeKalb County: Madeline Martin, DeKalb County High School
  • Dickson County: Lillian Pierce, Dickson County High School
  • Dyer County: Macey Armstrong, Dyer County High School
  • Fayette County: Angelique Obando, Briarcrest Christian High School
  • Fentress County: Nevaeh Marshall, York Institute
  • Franklin County: Savannah Parkerson, Franklin County High School
  • Gibson County: Aidan Swanger, South Gibson County High School
  • Giles County: Alexis Orr, Richland School
  • Grainger County: Adrianna Buchanan, Grainger High School
  • Greene County: Lauren Keffer, North Greene High School
  • Grundy County: Allison Dickerson, Grundy County High School
  • Hamblen County: Addison McGuffin, Morristown-Hamblen High School West
  • Hamilton County: Evelyn Winn, Boyd Buchanan School
  • Hancock County: Jade Combs, Hancock County High School
  • Hardeman County: John Nuckolls, McNairy Central High School
  • Hardin County: Cooper Townley, Hardin County High School
  • Hawkins County: Megan Miles, Cherokee High School
  • Haywood County: Luke Sullivan, University School of Jackson
  • Henderson County: Dylan Armstrong, Lexington High School
  • Henry County: Reagan Bostick, Henry County High School
  • Hickman County: Clay Manor, East Hickman High School
  • Houston County: Camdyn Lyle, Houston County High School
  • Humphreys County: Christopher Ortega Nunez, McEwen High School
  • Jackson County: Kenneth Sexton, Cookeville High School
  • Jefferson County: Joanna James, Jefferson County High School
  • Johnson County: Alen Lin, Johnson County High School
  • Knox County: Varrun Prakash, Farragut High School
  • Lake County: Mary Hearn, Lake County High School
  • Lauderdale County: William Rose, Ripley High School
  • Lawrence County: Harley Patterson, Richland School
  • Lewis County: Jaxon Fite, Lewis County High School
  • Lincoln County: Vincent Ruhlander, Fayetteville High School
  • Loudon County: Daniel Bridges, Loudon High School
  • Macon County: Logan West, Red Boiling Springs High School
  • Madison County: Vaidehi Prasad, University School of Jackson
  • Marion County: Wiley Jiang, Marion County High School
  • Marshall County: Mary Steely, Marshall County High School
  • Maury County: Ethan Jackson, Columbia High School
  • McMinn County: Reagan Baker, McMinn Central High School
  • McNairy County: Brayden Mclemore, Adamsville High School
  • Meigs County: Oliver Adams, Meigs County High School
  • Monroe County: Hannah Thomas, Sequoyah High School
  • Montgomery County: Addesyn Underwood, Rossview High School
  • Moore County: James Hammond, Moore County High School
  • Morgan County: John Schubert, Berean Christian School
  • Obion County: Benjamin Wade, McCallie School
  • Overton County: Mallie Carwile, Livingston Academy
  • Perry County: Cade Lomax, Lewis County High School
  • Pickett County: Ava Keisling, Pickett County High School
  • Polk County: Kalee Rogers, Polk County High School
  • Putnam County: Cameron Birdwell, Cookeville High School
  • Rhea County: Robert Burns III, Rhea County High School
  • Roane County: Madison Neeley, Harriman High School
  • Robertson County: Clementine Denton, White House High School
  • Rutherford County: Kaylyn Mackens, Rockvale High School
  • Scott County: Eli Sewell, Oneida High School
  • Sequatchie County: Mary Baldwin, Girls Preparatory School
  • Sevier County: Addison Wyrick, Sevier County High School
  • Shelby County: Sanjeev Santhosh, Collierville High School
  • Smith County: Gabriel Harville, Smith County High School
  • Stewart County: Cooper Bumpus, Stewart County High School
  • Sullivan County: Avery Padgett, West Ridge High School
  • Sumner County: Jesse Davis, Station Camp High School
  • Tipton County: Aiden-Anant Patel, Tipton-Rosemark Academy
  • Trousdale County: Malia Morgan, Trousdale County High School
  • Unicoi County: Norah Ray, Unicoi County High School
  • Union County: Ava Buckner, Union County High School
  • Van Buren County: Madeline Rust, White County High School
  • Warren County: Christian Chapman, Warren County High School
  • Washington County: Brayden O’Neil, Science Hill High School
  • Wayne County: Samuel Welch, Home Life Academy
  • Weakley County: Abigail Warbington, Westview High School
  • White County: Lucas Blakeman, White County High School
  • Williamson County: Eva Nielsen, Fred J. Page High School
  • Wilson County: Emily Angel, Lebanon High School

Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship selection

Admitted first-year in-state students are automatically considered for the Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship. To receive priority consideration, students should apply for admission by Nov. 1 of their senior year of high school. Recipients must be admitted to the university and enroll for the fall semester immediately following their graduation from a Tennessee high school.

In addition to the Distinguished Tennessean Scholarship, the university offers the Tri-Star Scholarship program, the Volunteer Scholarship, the Orange and White Scholarship and other institutional scholarships to Tennessee residents. Information on scholarship opportunities and application deadlines can be found on the One Stop website.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Maggie Palmer (865-974-393, mpalme19@utk.edu)